Kopenkoskey released on tether as final arguments are due

Carol Kopenkoskey, who has been charged of 1st degree murder in the Oct. 2 death of her husband, Lyle, was released Tuesday on a $500,000/10-percent bond. Mary Beth Kur, Kopenkoskey's attorney, was not available for comment Wednesday.

Kopenkoskey was observed in street clothes at the Community Corrections office at approximately 1 p.m. on Tuesday. Community Corrections director Amy Fettig declined to comment on the release, referring to the office of 90th district court.

Her release was confirmed by the Emmet County Jail on Wednesday morning.

The 59-year-old Resort Township woman is currently under house arrest on a SCRAM tether until a GPS tether unit is available, according to the office of the 90th District Court. Once a GPS unit is attached, Kopenkoskey is expected to meet the restrictions set during Monday's hearing before Judge James Erhart, including Kopenkoskey to display no assaultive or intimidating behavior to potential witnesses in the case, cannot leave Emmet County and must be in her Townsend Road residence between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m. daily. Emmet County prosecutor James Linderman initially requested GPS tether and that Kopenkoskey not be allowed to leave her home.

The release follows a unique 24 hours for the 59-year-old Resort Township woman, who has been jailed since Jan. 3. Following four hours of testimony on the second day of a preliminary exam Monday in 90th District Court, Linderman sought to submit closing arguments in writing. That request prompted Erhart — who has the decision whether to proceed to trial or not — to consider bond, following arguments submitted by Kur at two prior hearings, and Linderman stated he had no objections to the proposed bond with certain restrictions.

Following a brief recess between Kur and Kopenkoskey, they agreed with the proposed bond. Potentially facing her case advancing or not advancing to trial on the charges, Kopenkoskey was instead released at least until Erhart makes his determination on the case.